Video: Ben Simmons shows off in first game with LSU

LSU freshman Ben Simmons is easily one of the favorites to be the number one overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. He was the number one player in the 2015 recruiting class and he finally got the chance to show his team what he can do.

College Basketball Talk shared a video of the Tigers taking on the Newcastle All-Stars in a warm-up game Saturday afternoon as part of the team’s Australia trip. Simmons had a big day for his team scoring 22 points and recording ten rebounds and three blocks. That is certainly an impressive debut.

Antonio Blakeney, the team’s other top freshman, had a decent showing by adding on sixteen points. The team ended up with an 89-75 win on the day as Simmons was excited to debut in the same town where his father, Dave, once played for the Newcastle Falcons.

“It was amazing,” Simmons said after the game. “The last time I was here (at Newcastle Stadium) I was real young and I couldn’t dunk and do the things I do now. It’s really fun and it was great seeing familiar faces here. The people watching me stretch was crazy to me. It was a great feeling. An unbelievable experience.”

The Tiger play four more games before returning home to Baton Rogue. This experience is certainly going to give the team the experience they need if they want to compete for a national title. The Tiger haven’t made the Final Four since 2006.

The Tigers open the regular season on November 16 when they host Kennesaw State.